5 soldiers killed as suicide attack hits Afghan army bus in Kabul

KABUL, July 2 (Xinhua) -- At least five army personnel were killed and nine people wounded after a suicide bombing targeted an Afghan army bus in western part of Kabul on Wednesday morning, sources said.

The attacker, who rammed his explosive-packed sedan into the running bus, was also killed on the spot.

"Five army personnel were killed and the injured included four army soldiers and five bystanders," a security source told Xinhua at the scene.

The blast occurred at around 6:30 a.m. in Jamal Mina locality, about 200 meters away from the Kabul University's northern gate.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet but the Taliban insurgent group was likely behind such attacks.

The government troops immediately cordoned off the area after the blast.

Police work to keep people from gathering at the scene for fears of a second blast.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the militant group launched an annual rebel offensive against Afghan and foreign security forces stationed in the country in mid-May.

The Taliban urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government and foreign troops.

The war-torn country is due to take over the responsibility for its own security from foreign troops by the end of the year.

More than 51,000 NATO-led coalition troops, down from the peak of 130, 000 in 2010, are stationed in Afghanistan, and the United States plans to trim its forces to less than 10,000 next year.